JKBOSE launches first-ever Shina textbooks for Classes I & II

JKBOSE launches first-ever Shina textbooks for Classes I & II

In a historic and culturally significant move, the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) has launched the first-ever Shina language textbooks for Classes I and II, marking a proud milestone in the preservation and promotion of indigenous languages in the Union Territory.

This landmark initiative reflects JKBOSE’s commitment to inclusive education, linguistic diversity, and early childhood learning rooted in local culture. The introduction of Shina textbooks at the primary level has been widely welcomed by educators, parents, and language experts alike.

🌿 A Major Step Towards Preserving Indigenous Languages

Shina is one of the oldest and most widely spoken regional languages in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, especially in Gurez, Drass, and adjoining areas. Despite its rich oral tradition, the language had long remained absent from formal school curricula.

With the launch of these textbooks, JKBOSE has taken a decisive step toward safeguarding linguistic heritage and ensuring that young learners connect with their mother tongue from the very beginning of their academic journey.

📘 What Makes the Shina Textbooks Special?

The newly introduced textbooks for Classes I and II have been carefully designed to suit the cognitive and emotional needs of young children. Key highlights include:

Simple and child-friendly language

Colorful illustrations and activity-based learning

Focus on basic vocabulary, storytelling, and cultural values

Alignment with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes mother-tongue education at the foundational level

These books aim to make learning joyful while strengthening students’ cultural identity.

🎓 Benefits for Students and the Education System

The introduction of Shina textbooks is expected to bring multiple long-term benefits:

Improved learning outcomes through mother-tongue instruction

Enhanced comprehension and communication skills among early learners

Increased school participation in Shina-speaking regions

Recognition and respect for regional languages in mainstream education

Educational experts believe that early exposure to one’s native language builds confidence and creates a strong foundation for learning other subjects and languages.

🙏 A Welcome Initiative by JKBOSE

This pioneering effort by JKBOSE has been widely appreciated as a forward-thinking and inclusive reform. It sends a strong message that every language matters and that education should reflect the cultural realities of its learners.

Parents and teachers have expressed gratitude for this move, calling it a long-awaited recognition of the Shina community’s linguistic identity.

🔍 What’s Next?

With the successful launch of Shina textbooks for Classes I and II, expectations are high that:

Higher-class textbooks may be introduced in the future

More regional and tribal languages could be included

Teacher training programs may be strengthened for effective implementation

Such initiatives pave the way for a more equitable, diverse, and culturally rooted education system in Jammu and Kashmir.

✨ Conclusion

The launch of the first-ever Shina textbooks by JKBOSE is more than an academic update—it is a celebration of language, identity, and inclusive growth. By empowering young learners to study in their mother tongue, JKBOSE has set an inspiring example for education boards across the country.

This thoughtful step deserves appreciation and gratitude, as it nurtures both knowledge and heritage—together.